Projets novateurs réalisés

Examen de la portée sur l’impact de l’environnement carcéral sur la santé mentale des agents correctionnels.

Ce projet de recherche vise à mieux comprendre les facteurs qui influencent la santé psychologique des agents et agentes correctionnels. Le travail en établissement de détention comporte de nombreux défis, et il est essentiel d’identifier ce qui, dans l’environnement de travail, peut protéger ou au contraire fragiliser le bien-être du personnel. À partir d’une analyse d’études scientifiques déjà publiées, la stagiaire examinera les conditions de travail, les pratiques de gestion et les relations professionnelles qui ont un effet sur la santé mentale. Les superviseurs vérifieront la fiabilité du processus de sélection et d’analyse. Les résultats permettront à l’organisation partenaire de mieux cibler les facteurs de risque et de protection propres au milieu correctionnel. À terme, cette recherche contribuera à orienter des actions concrètes pour améliorer le climat de travail, prévenir la détresse psychologique et favoriser un environnement plus sain et durable pour le personnel correctionnel.

Crise du logement, itinérance et campement : une analyse des pistes de solution cohérentes avec la réduction des méfaits

De nombreuses villes du Québec et du Canada constatent une augmentation de l’itinérance ainsi que des campements en milieu urbain. Dans un contexte de crise du logement, les mesures à développer sont difficiles à identifier afin d’assurer un milieu de vie sécuritaire, agréable, digne et accessible à toutes et tous. En ce sens, cette recherche vise à identifier les pistes de solution existantes afin de diminuer les effets délétères des campements en milieu urbain, tant sur les personnes vivant à l’intérieur qu’à l’extérieur des campements et ce, dans une logique de réduction des méfaits. Il s’agit d’un projet de recherche en partenariat avec la Ville de Trois-Rivières afin de recenser dans la littérature scientifique et grise les pratiques en matière de réduction des potentiels effets délétères des campements pour les personnes dans et hors de ceux-ci, issues de contextes nationaux comparables.

Development of Novel Electrod for Proton Exchange Membrane Water Electrolyzer

The increasing global energy demand and the environmental impact of fossil fuels highlight the need for sustainable energy carriers. Hydrogen is a promising solution due to its high energy density and wide applicability; however, most hydrogen is currently produced through carbon-intensive processes. Water electrolysis powered by renewable electricity offers a low-emission alternative, with proton exchange membrane water electrolyzers (PEMWEs) being particularly attractive because of their high efficiency, compact design, and ability to operate under dynamic conditions. Despite these advantages, large-scale deployment of PEMWEs is limited by high costs, largely associated with the membrane electrode assembly (MEA), which governs efficiency and durability.
The MEA consists of a proton exchange membrane, catalyst layers, and porous transport layers (PTLs). Precious metal coated Titanium-based PTLs and precious metal based catalysts (such as iridium and platinum) are required to withstand the harsh anode environment, making cost reduction a key challenge. This project investigates hybrid MEA designs by controlling catalyst distribution between the membrane and PTL, along with advanced porous transport electrode concepts using Ir-based intermetallic phases on Ti PTLs. Electrolyzer testing and post-operation analyses will be used to link performance losses to degradation mechanisms, enabling more durable and cost-effective PEMWEs.

Advanced Modelling and Control of a Pressure Pump for Active Microfluidic Applications Integrated in a Digital Twin Platform

Microfluidic technologies make it possible to precisely control very small amounts of fluid and are increasingly used in applications such as biotechnologies, environmental monitoring, and advanced materials. However, many microfluidic systems remain expensive, complex, and dependent on bulky equipment, which limits their accessibility and widespread adoption. This project aims to improve a low-cost, open-source pressure control system designed specifically for microfluidic applications. The system generates and regulates air pressure without requiring an external air compressor, making it more compact, affordable, and easier to integrate into custom setups. The focus of the project is to develop an advanced control strategy that improves the speed, accuracy, and stability of pressure regulation across the full operating range. By combining expertise in microfluidics and advanced control systems from UQTR and UTC, the project will enhance the performance of a flexible pressure pump that can support multiple independent outputs. The resulting technology will help researchers and innovators access high-quality microfluidic tools without expensive infrastructure, supporting advances in healthcare, environmental technologies, and sustainable manufacturing. Ultimately, this work contributes to making microfluidic technologies more accessible, reliable, and impactful across a wide range of applications.

Developing Novel Time-Resolved Serial Nano Electron Diffraction

One of the holy grails of Physical Chemistry is to directly observe atomic motions during the defining moments of chemistry. To this end, the objective of this project is to implement Serial Nano Electron Diffraction (Serial-NED) in a transmission electron microscope (TEM) with time-resolved capabilities in the Kuwahara Lab at Nagoya University. The novel time-resolved Serial-NED will offer unprecedented resolution into structural reorganization of complex materials and identifying the key atomic motions that occur during chemical events. Serial-NED will also be a cost-effective and small-scale alternative to similar X-ray based methods(time resolved Xray Crystallography). This project has implications for Canadian research and industry, especially in areas such as semiconductors, quantum materials, and energy harvesting materials. Meanwhile, the Kuwahara Lab will benefit from our expertise in Serial-NED and Ultrafast Electron Diffraction, and from the implementation of Serial-NED in their existing time-resolved TEM setup. We will provide the biological samples with interesting dynamics for these experiments. In turn, our group will gain experience in the method of time-resolved electron microscopy, which will benefit us when we ultimately implement time-resolved Serial-NED at the University of Toronto.

L’utilisation des philosophes anciens dans le Theophrastus Redivivus

Le Theophrastus Redivivus est un texte anonyme rédigé à Paris au 17ème siècle et est le premier texte ouvertement athée de l’ère chrétienne en Occident. Ce texte propose plusieurs idées qui annoncent la Modernité des Lumières, quoiqu’il soit près d’un siècle en avance. Le texte est abondamment bâti sur la littérature ancienne (sont tirés de l’Antiquité des citations, avec et sans référence, des informations, des anecdotes et des faits scientifiques). Notre projet consiste en l’étude de l’utilisation de l’Antiquité, et en particulier des philosophes, pour étudier le lien entre l’Antiquité et la Modernité naissante en France au 17ème.

Context-Aware AI for Automated Financial and Material Reconciliation in Construction Projects

This project aims to create an AI-powered system that brings together financial records and real-world construction data into one clear, easy-to-use platform. The system will automatically read invoices, receipts, and delivery notes and link them to information about where materials are delivered and used on job sites. By connecting these data sources, the organization will gain a real-time view of project costs, material flow, and budget performance. This will make it easier to track spending, verify deliveries and identify issues early, The partner organization will benefit from faster reporting, more accurate cost tracking, and better control over resource, leading to improved efficiency, lower waste, and stronger financial and operational decision-making across all projects.

STARTUP DEVELOPEMENT IN THE ERA OF GENERATIVE AI

The proposed project investigates how Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) is changing the way startups recognize, evaluate, and develop new business opportunities. A visiting PhD student from IE University will work with Dr. Serghei Musaji at the University of New Brunswick to study Canadian startups and their local ecosystem, collecting original data through surveys, interviews, and field observations. The project will provide practical insights into how entrepreneurs use GenAI tools, how teams and organizations adapt, and how incubators, investors, and mentors support AI-driven ventures. The research will benefit both institutions by strengthening collaboration, generating high-quality data for joint publications, and enhancing understanding of digital innovation in entrepreneurship, while providing the intern with mentorship, hands-on experience, and exposure to the Canadian startup ecosystem.

Designing Responsible and Efficient AI Systems for IoT Threat Detection and Retrieval-Augmented Educational Assistance

This project explores two critical areas of AI research: cybersecurity for Internet of Things (IoT) systems and responsible AI assistants for education and research. IoT devices, widely used in healthcare, smart cities, and industry, are highly vulnerable to cyberattacks due to limited resources and large-scale connectivity. We propose AI-based intrusion detection systems that are lightweight, scalable, and capable of identifying both known and unknown threats in real time, balancing accuracy with computational efficiency.

Simultaneously, the project develops AI assistants using Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) to support education and research. These assistants combine generative models with external knowledge retrieval to provide accurate, traceable, and ethically responsible guidance. They address common challenges such as hallucinations, biases, and lack of transparency, embedding safeguards for privacy, fairness, and user trust.

By integrating secure IoT monitoring with responsible AI applications, this project advances both technology and society. It strengthens the protection of critical digital infrastructures while providing reliable, transparent AI tools that enhance learning, research, and knowledge management. The outcomes aim to foster innovation in digital health, education, and cybersecurity, demonstrating AI that is both effective and responsible.

Detection of Calving Activity in Dairy Cows Through Computer Vision

Calving is a critical event in dairy farming, as abnormal calving can lead to calf mortality, health complications for the cow, and economic losses for farmers. These risks can be minimized by the timely detection of calving onset, which can be determined from animal behaviour. Ear position is a behavioural indicator of cows’ emotional states and a novel indicator of calving onset. However, computer vision models are needed for continuous monitoring of these behaviours and to validate their usefulness in determining calving onset. The objective of this project is to develop computer vision models to monitor dairy cow behaviour before calving, particularly focusing on ear positions, and to investigate the potential of these behavioural indicators for detecting the onset of calving. The host group at Vetmeduni Vienna has developed research on calving monitoring and has previously explored other behavioural indicators. Adding ear position analysis will strengthen their research, while the intern from the University of Manitoba will gain hands-on experience with new feature-extraction approaches using computer vision models. The project will establish research collaborations and strengthen the research capacity of both groups through the exchange of knowledge and methodologies for digital livestock monitoring.

Impact des véhicules électriques sur la pointe de consommation

Les véhicules électriques (VÉ) sont amenés à représenter une part croissante du parc automobile. Leur recharge a le potentiel de créer ou d’exacerber des pointes de demande, qui pourraient complexifier la gestion du réseau électrique pour les distributeurs. Par contre, les VÉ et leurs batteries à la capacité croissante (60 kWh et plus) pourraient potentiellement fournir de l’énergie aux bâtiments et au réseau électrique, ce qui est connu sous le nom de « vehicle-to-grid » (V2G). Quel sera l’impact des VÉ sur le réseau électrique ? Cette recherche vise à répondre à cette question en analysant différents scénarios de gestion de la recharge. Des comparaisons avec d’autres outils de gestion de la puissance seront menées pour tenter d’établir les conditions faisant du V2G une avenue prometteuse pour gérer le réseau.

Under Pressure: Investigating the effects of physiological stress on immunity and coronavirus shedding in Neotropical bats using cell lines and organoids

Bats are important reservoirs for several high-consequence zoonotic viruses, including coronaviruses (CoVs). They maintain these viruses without diseases, indicating unique immunological adaptations shaped by bat–virus coevolution. However, active viral replication and shedding have been observed in bats—hypothesized to be driven by ecological and physiological stressors. Land-use change driven by agricultural expansion and urbanization increasingly exposes bats to resource limitation and consequently to chronic stress. While chronic stress is known to alter immunity and infection in humans, its mechanistic role in shaping bat immunity and viral dynamics remains largely untested. This project will address this gap by experimentally examining how physiological stress influences immunity and CoV replication in Neotropical bats, which harbor diverse CoVs, including lineages related to human pathogens. We will develop novel bat-derived cell lines and organoids, simulate chronic stress, and quantify immune responses and viral replication. In addition to advancing fundamental knowledge by mechanistically linking ecophysiological stressors to cellular pathways, this project will strengthen collaboration between the University of Saskatchewan and the University of Oklahoma. By establishing an integrated field-to-laboratory workflow and novel in vitro resources, this project will position both institutions to co-lead future interdisciplinary research on ecoimmunology, host–pathogen interactions, and zoonotic spillover risk.